The Ultimate Guide to Handling the New Competency-Based Interview Style

Excerpt

Introduction

The job interview. It’s a constantly evolving environment. Just when
candidates think they have figured it all out, they are exposed to
competencybased interview questions (also known as behavioral-style
interviews) that leave them clueless as to how to respond.

Competency-based interviews are quickly gaining popularity among hiring
professionals as the most effective questioning strategy to identify and
hire the right people. But what are competency-based interviews and how
do these interviews work? Competency-based interviews are when
interviewers focus on core competencies that are essential for success
on the job. In addition, behavioral-style interview questions target the
candidates’ accomplishments, which gives them an opportunity to
showcase their successes.

This book presents 201 competency-based interview questions that you are
likely to be asked so you will know the best way to answer these questions.
This book provides the tips and guidance you need to succeed in today’s
competitive marketplace. To make it easier to navigate through the book,
the information is split into three parts.

Part I: The Fundamentals. Whenever a new interview method, such as the
competency-based interview, is introduced, it’s normal for applicants
to feel insecure. The key is to not let self-doubt get the best of you,
lest you run the risk of getting tongue-tied and making a poor impression.
Filled with easy-to-grasp concepts and easy-to-follow advice, Part I
effectively prepares you to enter this new world of interviewing.

Part II: Competency-Based Questions and Answers. This part of the book is
its core.With these 201 interview questions and answers, you will come away
with a clear understanding of how to broach this type of questioning
strategy. Each answer has three components: situation, action (or
observation), and result. The breakdown of competencies, along with the questions
and typical answers, provides you with a variety of objectives and sample
responses you can use as a guide when preparing for interviews.

Part III: The End of the Interview. The way you manage the end of the interview,
and the course you take once the interview is over. can have a
significant impact on whether or not you are offered the position. Complete
with a post-interview analysis, this section provides scripts on how to
close the interview and sample follow-up letters you can tailor to

fit your situation.

Key Attributes and Career Values

Key attributes and career values are personal characteristics and work strengths
that employers will measure during job interviews. In the body of this
book you will learn how to identify your fundamental competencies and
shape each to appeal to employers. However, to begin, you can use your
current job description to identify your employment-based

Step 3. Identify the career values and key attributes important to each.

As an example, see Figure I-1. This shows what one person, presently working
as a quality assurance manager, came up with when he followed the three
steps just described. As you can see, he took his current job
description (to create a safe environment, to conduct OSHA meetings, and to
file accident reports) and paired those duties with the actions he took
to perform those duties and the employer-desired values and key employee attributes
inherent in those actions.

Gathering this job information and viewing it in this manner—in
terms of key attributes and career values—will provide you with the resources
you need to answer the kinds of competency-based questions that have
been presented in this book.

The Competency-Based Questions

Chapters 6 through 10 present the 201 questions and give sample
responses, keyed to the Key Attributes and Career Values described
above. As a further aid, I have presented just the questions in the
following section—you might see how well you can answer them right
now, even before beginning to read this book. Then compare your initial
responses

with those in the chapters that follow. In this increasingly competitive
world, securing a job position—especially

the position that you want and that will advance your career—requires
solid communication skills and the ability to answer these tough
competencybased questions. With this guide you will be well on your way
to getting that job offer.

Good luck!

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For single copy purchases of any AMACOM title, you can connect directly to the online retailer of your choice, from the list below, to buy the title you have selected. Most of our links will take you directly to that title on the site, making your shopping experience easier. You can also visit your local retailer, and if the book is not on their shelves they can special order it for you.

Buying in Bulk?

We have very competitive discounts starting at 5 copies, as well as personal service, for bulk orders. Simply contact our Special Sales Department. Call 800-250-5308 or 212-903-8420 and ask for Special Sales. You can also email: SpecSlsWeb@amanet.org